Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Ionic Charge
Ionic charge refers to the electrical charge that an atom acquires when it loses or gains electrons to form an ion. For example, calcium (Ca) loses two electrons to form Ca²⁺, resulting in a positive charge. Understanding ionic charge is crucial for determining the number of electrons in an ion and how it relates to the number of protons.
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Protons and Electrons
Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom, and their number defines the atomic number of an element. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons, but in ions, this balance is disrupted, leading to a net charge that must be accounted for when filling in the table.
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Atomic Structure
Atomic structure refers to the arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons within an atom. The atomic number, which is the number of protons, determines the element's identity. For example, selenium (Se) has 34 protons, and understanding this structure helps in identifying the number of electrons in its ion form, which is essential for completing the table accurately.
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